XIII Международная студенческая научная конференция Студенческий научный форум - 2021

In Britain, even now, people are judged by their table manners, especially when they dine out or attend official events. There is a certain method by which you must behave, and certain subtleties that must be observed. These are just a few of them, from primitive elements to some more advanced subtleties for official occasions.

The truly important aspects of food etiquette which include showing respect for others; lack of selfishness or greed; General fairness, politeness, and sociability-are well-known, even if not always strictly observed by most Englishmen of all social classes.

All people know to ask, not just grab; don't serve yourself huge portions, leaving not enough food for others; don't take the last bite without asking if anyone else wants it; don't talk with your mouth full; don't stuff huge portions of food into your mouth and chew noisily; take part in the conversation without monopolizing or dominating it; and so on.

We may not always follow all the rules, but at least we know them. If you ask English people about "table manners", they may assume that you are referring to a Prim, meaningless etiquette about which fork to use, but if you start a conversation about what is and is not acceptable when eating with other people, what they were taught and what they teach their children, these will turn out to be quite simple, universal, classless courtesies.

For example:

– Don’t put your elbows on the table.

–– Cut your meat into small pieces, one piece at a time.

– It is not polite to leave a spoon in a tea cup. Put your spoon on the saucer.

– Don’t eat from your knife.

– Never read while eating.

– Take a slice of bread from the bread plate by your hand.

Some classes (lower-class mothers – particularly 'respectable upper-working' and lower-middle mothers) tend to be stricter on these basic points than some middle-and upper-class parents, who are still influenced by the "progressive" parenting practices of the 1970s, which frowned on rules and regulations and encouraged free expression.

The most unusual criteria of table etiquette the peas-on-the-back-of-the-fork, for which the English are famous and widely ridiculed are usually considered the prerogative of the upper social classes. Indeed, one might excuse the assumption that the only function of these rules is to distinguish these classes from the lower ones, since in most cases it is not easy to understand what other purpose they serve.

Many of these class-indicator rules concern the use of objects and implements — knives, forks, spoons, glasses, bowls, plates and so on. Which is where 'material culture' comes in. Here are some of them:

– The fork is held in the left hand, the knife in the right to cut food and to help carry food to the fork. The fork is held, tines down, and the knife used to move food onto the fork or support food so the fork can pick it up.

– When you are finished eating, soup spoons, coffee spoons, and dessert spoons should be placed on the side plate or saucer, never leave them in the bowl, cup. Do not push your plate away or stack your dishes. Place your knife and fork together in the "twenty past four" position, as if your plate were the face of the clock.

– When you leave the table put your serviette in loose folds at the left side of your plate, never on top of the plate, and many others.

The etiquette of the English is not very different from that of other nations. But, like everyone else, they have their own characteristics. From this text, it becomes clear that English etiquette is not as strict as it is represented by foreigners.